Cassidy bill aims to prevent terrorists from using vehicles to attack Americans

Working to avert terrorist attacks where vehicles are used as deadly weapons against Americans, U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) recently introduced legislation to obtain Department of Homeland Security (DHS) feedback on its threat assessment for vehicular terrorism as well as its prevention and response measures.

“With radical Islamic terrorists and other extremists seeking new ways to harm Americans, it’s important the Department of Homeland Security does a thorough job combating threats,” said Cassidy. “This bill will help give Congress the information it needs to guard against terrorist attacks involving vehicles, and help law enforcement keep Americans safe.”

The Vehicular Terrorism Prevention Act, S. 2077, would require the DHS secretary to examine the agency’s response to preventing terrorist attacks using vehicles and report on it to Congress. The report mandated under the legislation would include vehicular terrorism’s current threat level, how it can be prevented, and what DHS is doing to protect the nation against it.

The bill also seeks examination of DHS’s outreach and training with private-sector entities in response to vehicular terrorism threats, as well as actions Congress could take to mitigate such threats.

The measure has been referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Rep. Bob Latta (R-OH) last week introduced a companion bill now pending in the House of Representatives.

Latta said that last week’s vehicular terror attack in New York City “shows that this fear is well-founded, and DHS needs to take the appropriate actions to prevent these assaults on innocent lives. The bipartisan Vehicular Terrorism Prevention Act will ensure that steps are taken — and the necessary tools are provided — to prevent these heinous attacks.”